Young man travels 9 thousand miles to meet his birth mother

Man’s NINE THOUSAND mile journey to meet his birth mother in Russia ends with a heartwarming twist

• 17:40, 26 JAN 2016
• UPDATED 18:04, 26 JAN 2016
• BY ZAHRA MULROY

Alex Gilbert was adopted from an orphanage in Arkhangelsk in 1992, and traced his birth mother himself via social media

In spite of the difference in language and lifestyle, mother and son share a tender moment

Situated in the north of European Russia, just 300 kilometers south of the Northern Polar Circle and with winter lows of -30C , Arkhangelsk is a far cry from Auckland, New Zealand.

But for 23-year-old Alex Gilbert, his story is very much a tale of two cities.

The TV production assistant was brought up in Auckland’s green North Shore suburb – but his “open and honest” adoptive parents have never hidden the fact that he and his brother Andrei were born in Arkhangelsk to Russian parents.

When kidergarten is dirt cheap

Parenting in Norway: ‘Our five-day-a-week kindergarten only costs us €279 a month…’

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PUBLISHED 05/09/2015 | 02:30

In Norway: Malin Hermansen Hansen with her partner Wegard and her two sons, Webjorn and Matheo

Finland’s Scandinavian neighbours fare well too. In Norway, special needs assistant Malin Hermansen Hansen and partner Wegard, a fisherman, live in Myre and have two sons, Webjorn, three-and-a-half, and Matheo, almost two.

Barking dog saves Nova Scotia family

Barking dog helps Nova Scotia family escape from burning home

House completely destroyed from early morning fire Sunday.

TC MEDIA

There were no injuries in a fire that destroyed a home along Alder Point Road early Sunday morning.

By: Staff TC Media Published on Sun Feb 21 2016

A family was able to escape without injury from their burning home early Sunday morning.

According to the Cape Breton Regional Police, the fire at 853 Alder Point Road was reported at 3:41 a.m. Sunday.

When members of the Florence Volunteer Fire Department arrived on scene the residence was fully engulfed. Fire officials were told the family had been awakened by their dog barking and that all of the family members had been able to escape to safety.

The home was destroyed in the fire and a vehicle parked in the driveway was damaged.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. The police and the fire marshal’s office are investigating.

As of mid-morning Sunday, security was on scene at the property.

Libyan PM-designate presents new line-up to parliament

Libyan PM-designate presents new line-up to parliament

TOBRUK, Libya: Libya’s prime minister-designate, Fayez al-Sarraj, on Saturday presented the program of his new national unity government before the parliament of the internationally recognized government ahead of a confidence vote.

“The members of parliament discussed with the Presidential Council the proposed unity government’s program as well as the names of ministers,” the Libyan news agency LANA, which is close to the recognized authorities, reported.

It added that the session was adjourned after several hours of “heated debate” and was set to resume on Sunday at 0800 GMT.

The oil-rich North African country has had rival administrations since the summer of 2014 when the internationally recognized government fled Tripoli after a militia alliance including Islamists overran the capital.

That alliance has established its own administration and parliament called the General National Congress.

The United Nations has been pushing both sides to back a unity government.

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Tunisia, Denmark win acting prizes at Berlin film fest

Tunisia, Denmark win acting prizes at Berlin film fest

BERLIN: Tunisia’s Majd Mastoura won the Silver Bear for best actor at the Berlin film festival Saturday for his role in “Hedi”, a love story set in the aftermath of the Arab Spring.

Denmark’s Trine Dyrholm won the Silver Bear as best actress for her role as a wronged wife in Thomas Vinterberg’s “The Commune”, a semi-autobiographical film about his 1970s childhood.